Collin Morikawa will head into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday with a genuine chance to win.
Morikawa has already won a Signature Event this season and he seems to be playing some of his best golf once again.
The 29-year-old has posted rounds of 66, 71 and 70 at Bay Hill this week and he currently trails the leader, Daniel Berger, by four strokes.
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However, Berger will have to come back on Sunday morning to finish the final three holes of his third round.
Morikawa said he had to fix his body during the off-season ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week.
And Morikawa’s game was in great shape in the build-up to Bay Hill – something that he has carried on into the tournament.
If the man from Los Angeles, California, wins this week, it would be fair to say that he is the world’s most in-form golfer.
And Morikawa believes he has a big advantage heading into the final round.
Collin Morikawa thinks he has an advantage heading into Sunday at Bay Hill
Morikawa posted a solid round of two-under-par 70 on Saturday at Bay Hill.
He didn’t have his best stuff, that was clearly evident, but he grinded out a very decent score.
After he finished up his round, Morikawa was asked how important it was to get his round finished as darkness was closing in.
“It’s huge,” Morikawa insisted.
“Even — not that I would have wanted to bogey that — but just being able to wake up and sleep in, and just kind of get the day situated.
“It’s a huge kind of momentum thing I think for the routine, especially teeing off pretty late tomorrow.“
Morikawa’s routine for Sunday will now not be affected, while Berger will have to get up at the crack of dawn to putt out on the 16th and then play the final two holes.
As Morikawa said, that really could be hugely important.
What Collin Morikawa told his caddie after making bogey on nine at Bay Hill
Morikawa played some fairly scrappy golf by his standards on the front nine at Bay Hill on Saturday afternoon.
After his round, he revealed how he managed to reset ahead of hitting his tee shot on the 10th hole.
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“Felt okay,“ Morikawa said.
“9 still baffled me a little bit. I felt like I hit a really good shot and flew 12 short of where we wanted.
“At that point I went to 10 and said to Mark, I was like, I just want to hit fairway and green. I felt like the putter could get hot. So I laid up off of 10, which I probably normally never do.
“I hit a great shot with a 7-iron, and made that putt, and I think that kind of kick started the rest of the 9.“
That birdie on 10 kick-started a fine back nine where Morikawa carded three birdies and six pars to vault himself into contention at Bay Hill.
Unless Berger birdies the final three holes of his third round on Sunday morning, Morikawa will have a good chance to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the first time in his career.
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